2023 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS WIN PREDICTION

BY ADAM GREENE

For the Indianapolis Colts, 2022-23 saw them officially come to the end of their band aid quarterback era. After replacing Andrew Luck with single-year starters since he retired before the 2019 season, Indianapolis had used stop gaps. Whether it was Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz or Matt Ryan, Indy found itself suffering the same issues year after year.

As such, head coach Frank Reich, and all the mercenary QBs, were shown the door, replaced by former Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen and rookie QB Anthony Richardson.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

2022-23 Record: 4-12-1

Playoffs: N/A

Presumed Starters

QB: Anthony Richardson

RB: Jonathan Taylor

WR: Michael Pittman, Jr.

WR: Alec Pierce

WR: Josh Downs

TE: Kylen Granson

LT: Bernhard Raimann

LG: Quenton Nelson

C: Ryan Kelly

RG: Will Fries

RT: Braden Smith

LDE: Kwity Paye

LDT: DeForest Buckner

RDT: Grover Stewart

RDE: Samson Ebukam

WLB: EJ Speed

MLB: Shaquille Leonard

SLB: Zaire Franklin

LCB: Kenny Moore II

RCB: Darrell Baker, Jr.

SS: Julian Blackmon

FS: Rodney Thomas II

K: Matt Gay

P: Rodrigo Sanchez

PR: Josh Downs

KR: Dallis Flowers

2023 NFL Draft: Round 1: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida, Round 2: Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State, Round 3: Josh Downs, WR, North Carolina, Round 4: Blake Freeland, OT, BYU, Round 4: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern, Round 5: Daniel Scott, Safety, California, Round 5: Will Mallory, TE, Miami, Round 5: Evan Hull, RB, Northwestern, Round 6: Titus Leo, Edge, Wagner, Round 7: Jaylon Jones, CB, Texas A&M, Round 7: Jake Witt, OT, Northern Michigan University

Players Gained: Samson Ebukam – DE (FA), Matt Gay – K (FA), EJ Speed – LB (FA), Ashton Dulin – WR (FA), Taven Bryan – DT (FA), Gardner Minshew – QB (FA), Kenyan Drake – RB (FA), Al-Quadin Muhammad – DE (FA), Isaiah McKinzie – WR (FA), Breshad Perriman – WR (FA), Jalen Taboor – CB (FA), Genard Avery – DE (FA), Pharoah Brown – TE (FA), Chris Lammons – CB (FA), Amair Rodgers – WR (FA), Isaac Taylor Stuart – CB (FA), Jake Martin – OLB (FA), Ronnie Harrison – Safety (FA)

Players Lost: Bobby Oereke – LB, Yannick Ngakoue – DE, Brandon Facyson – CB, Parris Campbell – WR, Rodney McLeod – Safety, Dennis Kelly – OT, Chase McLaughlin – K, Matt Pryor – OG, Ben Banogu – DE, Matt Haack – P, Isaiah Rodgers – CB, Kaden Smith – TE, Darrynton Evans – RB

Indianapolis Colts 2023 Odds

2023 Super Bowl Odds: +12500

2023 AFC Championship Odds: +5000

2023 AFC South Odds: +160

Team Wins: Over 6.5 (+100), Under 6.5 (-130)

The Colts bought the most lucrative lottery ticket in April’s NFL Draft when they selected Florida Gators quarterback Anthony Richardson. If Richardson pans out, then Indianapolis has a Cam Newton/Lamar Jackson hybrid. If he doesn’t, and that is far more likely the case, they have an epic draft bust. Either way, by naming him the starter from Game 1 on, we’ll know the results soon enough.

Indy isn’t an 0-17, but they have that potential. I’ve often said that it should be just as hard to go completely winless than it is to go undefeated. What’s more probable is they win a game or two they shouldn’t (I’m looking at you New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans) and lose some games they should actually win (Hi, Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

With a bye coming late, in Week 11, I could see the Colts heading into Thanksgiving at 3-9. It’s not a rocky road to end the season, but considering where Indianapolis is at the moment, there’s no smooth sailing. In fact, even if Richardson pans out as a potential starter, the higher the draft pick they can claim the better. After all, how much do you think Indy would love bringing in Marvin Harrison, Jr. to the team which Marvin Harrison, Sr. piled up so many yards?

2023-23 Win Prediction: 6-11

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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